Indonesia U23 coach about to lose his job, Vietnam U23 has more opportunities at SEA Games

(Dan Tri) - U23 Indonesia is in a crisis with the head coach position. The country's Football Federation (PSSI) has not yet decided whether to continue with coach Vanenburg (Dutch) or return to coach Indra Sjafri?

CNN Indonesia reported today (September 16): "PSSI President Erick Thohir said he will decide the fate of coach Gerald Vanenburg as head coach of the Indonesian U23 team in the next 1-2 days."

Coach Gerald Vanenburg of Indonesia U23 is at risk of losing his job (Photo: Antara).

“Coach Gerald Vanenburg could not help the Indonesian U23 team qualify for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Previously, the Dutch coach also could not help the Indonesian U23 team win the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship,” CNN Indonesia added.

The poor results in the two consecutive tournaments above have made the position of coach Gerald Vanenburg shaken. Indonesian media and football fans in the archipelago country predict that coach Indra Sjafri may return to the position of head coach of the Indonesian U23 team, preparing for the 33rd SEA Games, taking place in December this year.

Mr. Indra Sjafri is also the most recent and only coach of Indonesian football to have led the country's men's football team to win a SEA Games championship, in the past 30 years.

U23 Indonesia (white shirt) was eliminated from the AFC U23 Championship early next year (Photo: CNN Indonesia).

CNN Indonesia quoted PSSI President Erick Thohir, about the future of the Indonesian U23 team's coaching position: "We will have a meeting about the competition program at the 33rd SEA Games within the next 1-2 days. PSSI Technical Director Alexander Zwiers will consider all possibilities related to the U23 team's coaching position."

“Mr. Alexander Zwiers will also report on the evaluations of coach Gerald Vanenburg after the recent tournaments. We have a complete system of specialists working with PSSI.

We will take advantage of this human resource. It is too early to talk about specific names for the competition program at the SEA Games,” Mr. Erick Thohir added.

U23 Indonesia is considered one of the two biggest rivals of U23 Vietnam at SEA Games 33 (the other big rival is host U23 Thailand). The fact that the team of the archipelago country has not yet settled in the head coach position could have a big impact on the race to the championship of the men's football event, at the Southeast Asian Games , taking place in December this year.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/hlv-u23-indonesia-sap-mat-viec-u23-viet-nam-them-co-hoi-tai-sea-games-20250916153644074.htm